vors in maine, maryland, and washington approved gay marriage just last month. there are 31 states where it is specifically banned. north carolina is the most recent state where voters went to the polls to ensure they wouldn't occur there. >> the ruling is going effect nows of couples in the bay area. we talked to a couple waiting to get married. >> countless thousands of gay couples have watched this case move into the legal system but few thought it would go to the supreme court so soon. >> long time partners tom and jeff stayed glue to their computer monitors all morning. >> either the prop eight or the doma. >> devoted to this. >> despite all of their research r search they did not expect that the supreme court would take up this case. >> we tend to believe that the supreme court is cautious and there are reasons they could have left the case alone. >> we were hoping that the supreme court wouldn't take the prop eight-case in which case, we could get married pretty soon, but it just means more waiting. >> we are pay -- paying our dues. we've been toyed with